'They manipulate and use HER!' Kristina Rihanoff's close friend blasts her 'home-wrecker' reputation after it's confirmed she IS dating Ben Cohen

She recently blasted critics for their home-wrecker jibes over her newly revealed romance with Ben Cohen.

And now a close friend of Kristina Rihanoff has come to the Strictly Come Dancing star's defence, revealing that she's a vulnerable woman who is easily 'manipulated' by the men she loves.

Marina Kostenko, 62 - who first met the blonde bombshell in late Nineties in the US and has remained close to the dancer ever since - firmly believes that the public's view of the 37-year-old as a 'Siberian siren' is completely wrong.

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Manipulated by her love: Kristina Rihanoff's close friend Marina Kostenko has spoke out in her defence, insisting the 'Siberian siren' is a vulnerable woman who is easily 'manipulated' by the men she loves

Speaking to The Sun's Pete Samson, Marina - who still resides in Seattle where she first met the blonde star - defended Kristina's chequered love life.

Describing how it is the men who come in and out of Kristina's life that are the ones at fault, she said: 'They manipulate her and use her, they see her vulnerability and figure out how to get to her.'

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And although her view is at odds with recent reports that have cast the dancer in the role of a home-wrecker, her friend went on to describe how the Russian beauty only wants to find love.

But while the dancer and her former Strictly partner Ben confirmed that they are now officially an item in July - following Ben splitting from his wife Abbey in September 2014 - her friend seems to be wary of Kristina's latest love-interest.

Naive? Describing how the men who come in and out of Kristina's life that are the ones at fault, Marina said: 'They manipulate her and use her, they see her vulnerability and figure out how to get to her'

Not a fan: The 62-year-old, who has remained close to the blonde dancer since they met in the 90s, has revealed she believes Ben Cohen is the one at fault in the dancer's latest tawdry romance

Explaining that while the BBC star is enjoying her new romance with Ben, Marina revealed that the dancer might be expecting more from the former Rugby international than a casual fling.

'I'd like Ben to give Kristina what she needs and deserves. And it is not money, it's a family,' Marina explained.

But while she is supportive of Kristina - who has previously dated fellow dancer Vincent Simone and boxer Joe Calzaghe - Marina is less-than impressed with Ben.

Describing him as a self-centred individual, she condemned his actions with Kristina, saying: 'He is selfish. To me it's some kind of robbery. He saw a diamond which does not belong to him and he should not have this diamond. She should be with someone else. A diamond needs care.'

'We're allowed to see each other as two single people': Kristina Rihanoff (right) has defended herself once again after being criticised for her relationship with married Ben Cohen

But while her friend may not think that she has found the right man, Kristina has other ideas, as she has defended her new relationship.

Giving her side of the story to The Mirror, Kristina asserted that while she has fallen for Ben she has done nothing wrong.

She said: 'He left his wife a year ago. Recently we started dating but we’re allowed to see each other as two single people.

'I don’t know why I am always attacked. I am a hardworking, self-made person. I support five people in my family in Russia.'

Speaking of tweeters repeatedly describing her as a home-wrecker she said, 'Pasha [Kovalev] and Rachel [Riley] got together after the show but everyone believed them when they said they were just friends.

She then called out fellow dancer Flavia Cacace for her three relationships, as well as pro Janette Manrara who dated Pasha, Artem Chigvinstev and now Aljaz Skorjanec.

Former England rugby star Ben’s estranged wife Abby is reportedly writing to the BBC to urge Strictly Come Dancing bosses to sack Kristina, who began courting the player after jiving with him on the show.

Abby also hit back at critics after being branded as 'pathetic' for her reaction to her marriage split.

Following Abby's tweet, users then turned their attention on Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina, who did not hold back in her own response.

Lashing out at one user who criticised her for 's***ging other women's husbands', the pretty blonde wrote: 'How pathetic your life must be if you find time to tweet something like this. Poor you. Get a life? Or an education or both (sic)".'

Angry: The post comes after Abby sent an angry tweet to Kristina, 37, after the Mail On Sunday reported that Ben, 36, has admitted he is now in a relationship with his former Strictly Come Dancing professional partner

The dancer, who appears to have a close relationship with the former rugby star, responded to several Twitter users and revealed plans for a tell-all book that will reveal what happened with her Strictly partner in 2013.

Responding to a Twitter user who said that 'no one should be publicly humiliated and bullied' despite any action, the Strictly star, replied: 'It's all good. Just more stuff for my book to write. Thanks for support xx.'

Ben's devastated wife took to Twitter to defend herself after she was called 'pathetic' by Strictly fans following a 'karma' tweet she sent to love rival Kristina.

Thirty-six-year-old Abby, who is seeking a divorce, responded: 'If you actually knew the truth then you wouldn't write that!'

The post came after Abby sent an angry tweet to Kristina, 37, after the Mail On Sunday reported that Ben, 36, has admitted he is now in a relationship with his former dance partner.

It read: 'When a bird is alive, it eats ants. When the birth is dead, ants eat the bird. One tree makes a million match sticks. Only one match stick needed to burn a million trees. So be good... and do good.'

If there was any doubt as to who the post was directly to, Abby forwarded it to Kristina, writing, 'There you go lovely...'

She also wrote: 'Some people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts, then they make us want to leave foot prints on their face....'

The post read: 'When a bird is alive, it eats ants. When the birth is dead, ants eat the bird. One tree makes a million match sticks. Only one match stick needed to burn a million trees. So be good... and do good'

And when WAG Abbey Clancy wrote about her love for her family, Abby replied: 'Ahhhh, hold onto it Hun.... Precious family.. Keep it safe and secure as mine totally ruined.'

Ben met his wife in 1995, at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before having their twin daughters, Harriette and Isabelle in 2008.

The couple revealed they had split in September with Ben and Kristina denying they were an item, following rumours of a romantic relationship.

Ben was pictured with his arm around her on the London Underground months after the show ended.

Kristina has previously had a dalliance with dancer Vincent Simone allegedly behind the back of his pregnant girlfriend in 2008 - although one report at the time stated the blonde dancer was unaware of their relationship.

Difficult times: Ben and Abby, pictured in October 2013, announced their split in September 2014

Next she fell for boxer Joe Calzaghe, who promptly dumped his model girlfriend in 2009, but went on to split with Kristina in 2013.

The Mail On Sunday report that Ben surprised relatives by bringing the blonde Russian along to a Cohen family day out last Saturday, attended by his daughters.

They add: 'Earlier this month, ‘Ben admitted to Abigail that he was now with Kristina but he insists this is a recent thing. Ben said 18 months ago that nothing was going on, yet Abby has been pushing him for the truth.

‘For her own peace of mind she has needed the truth to come out. This is about people doing things that they shouldn’t do when they are married.’

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen for comment.

All over: Rugby star Ben met his wife in 1995, at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before having their daughters, Harriette and Isabelle in 2008